'Little Women' Musical
July, 2024
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a classic novel that follows the lives of the four March sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy as they grow up in Civil War-era New England. The story explores their dreams, struggles, and relationships with each other and their family. Each sister has a distinct personality and set of ambitions, but they all share a deep bond and mutual support. The novel highlights themes of love, friendship, and personal growth.
I made the 'Young Meg' pink dress and the 'Beth' green dress.
Costume Designer: Bryony Cook
Director: Rachel Heyburn
Photographer: Jorge Lizalde
Costume Assistant & Maker: Olivia Lewis, Rosemary Underwood, Xingue (Thea) Gou, Nancy Chen.
Set Designer: Haiyan Hester Xue
Maker Process
Costume Assistant & Maker: Olivia Lewis
I spent two weeks Making 2 Period Dresses for the RWCMD Spring Production of 'Little Women'. I made a baby pink floral dress for the character 'MEG' and a pale green floral dress for the character 'BETH'.
- Draw, Cut and sew 'bum cushion' from calico and ribbon, stuff with stuffing,
- I then started off by tracing the bodice and sleeve pattern out using a tracing wheel.
- Cut them out leaving 1.5 inches seam allowance.
- Did the same process again with calico fabric.
- Matched the pieces up and mounted them on top of each other and tack stitched the calico to the outer fabric.
- Sewed up all the side seams, and attached the sleeves.
- Began to cut out the skirt (outer fabric only; not backed in calico).
- Sewed the side seams of the skirt.
- Cartridge pleated along the back panel, at the waist.
- Joined the skirt and bodice together at the waist, attaching it to petersham for further support.
- Hook and eye fastenings added to the center front bodice.
- Add piping cord to the cuffs and neckline using the sewing machine.
- Hand sew on the lace to the neckline and cuffs.
- Add decorative buttons down Centre front bodice (ensuring they are equally spaced).
- Hook and bar fastening at the top of the skirt to keep it sitting flat, along the left front dart seam pf the bodice.
- Prop the garment on the table (makes it easier to hem), measure the same distance from ground to desired skirt length, pin in place.
- Herringbone stitch along the hem to finish off.
Costume Assisting & Show Dressing
Assisting & Dressing
- Made the 'Beth & Meg' Dresses.
- Made 'Bum cushions', to go under the dresses, and sit on top of crinolines and petticoats.
- Fixing of fastenings on crinolines and petticoats.
- Dressed the performances: being backstage and in the wings (assisting with quick changes, laundry call etc)
Production Photographs
'Little Women' at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff (July, 2024)
Photographer: Jorge Lizalde
oliviarosedesign.com